I have been thinking about writing this blog for a while, and I have to tell you some of my favorite clients are the ones that struggle with binge eating. The reason has nothing to do with their eating disorder behaviors and everything to do with how they present. My clients with binge eating are full of shame. They are so embarrassed by their eating disorder that they can’t even stand to be seen. They feel judged for their behaviors and can’t even imagine talking about it and telling the truth about how they use food. Those that I work with that struggle with binge eating disorder feel like they don’t have the “good eating disorder” and hate themselves for it. My eyes are getting tearful just thinking about these lovely clients. I adore these clients because all I want to do is make them feel safe and seen. I want so badly for them to know that they won’t be judged, and they will be cared about. These are the clients that don’t talk about what they are going through because society is more rewarding of restricting than it is of binging. What my clients don’t know is their disorder is a product of restricting and limiting foods not because they don’t have self-control. Binging is a normal reaction that any person can go through after years of restriction. I don’t want you to blame yourself or hate yourself for something that isn’t your fault.
If you’re here because you think you might have binge eating disorder, you’re safe with me. I’m not here to judge you but I want to help take care of you. Let’s dive into your comprehensive binge eating disorder guide according to Ashlee Hunt.
What is Binge Eating Disorder?
Here’s the thing, I could easily give you google’s definition but you could easily find that yourself if you wanted to. I’m going to tell you what it is according to non-google terms. People with binge eating disorder tend to eat, what for them is large quantities of food to the point where they feel uncomfortably stuffed and out of control with food.
I have worked with clients who think they binge when they are actually eating adequate amounts of food but because they are used to heavily restricting this feels like a “binge”. This isn’t binge eating disorder. Although I will indicate that this can be how binging starts but it’s not the same thing. When I worked at an eating disorder treatment center, I led a binge eating disorder support group, and the women I worked with didn’t feel they fit in anywhere because they truly were binging, but other people were restricting. While all eating disorders carry some component of shame, binge eating disorder by far cares the most shame.
Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder:
Eating a quantity of food that leaves your body feeling uncomfortably full
Eating for you what is a large quantity of food in a short period of time
Frequently eating alone or sneaking food
Feelings of shame and guilt after eating for you is a large quantity of food
Feeling powerless or out of control around food
Binge Eating Disorder is a result of restriction
Those that I have worked with come to me feeling frustrated because they had gone for years with sticking to a diet or being able to have self-control. They are now binging and don’t know what went wrong. They try to tighten up even more on restricting foods or counting calories and macros but they just keep binging. Binge eating disorder is not because you don’t have self-control. It’s because you’ve deprived yourself of food through dieting and restricting. It makes sense that you would be binging after a diet. This is a normal reaction. Your body does not like to be underfed, and we don’t get to decide how much food our bodies require. Eventually, your body will rebel and cravings increase, and binges occur. Again this is an expected reaction from the body. Clients have told me that they aren’t restricting themselves from food, so why would they be binging then? The mental restriction is just as powerful as a physical restriction. If you are telling yourself in your head that you can only eat a certain amount of food, this is a restriction. This is a restriction if you are labeling foods good and bad and only allowing yourself to eat the “good” foods. This is a restriction if you don’t allow certain foods in your home because you’re afraid of a binge. This is a restriction if you are telling yourself how much food you can eat without checking in with what your body wants. If you are mentally restricting, you are still going to binge.
Binge Eating Disorder doesn’t improve with more restriction.
I see people trying to improve their binge eating disorder with even more restriction. Once again they believe if they could just get a hold of themselves and stick to a diet they would stop binging. This is creating even more restrictions. You will be surprised to know that binge eating disorder is actually overcome by allowing yourself to eat all foods. Intuitive Eating was created at first as the treatment for binge eating disorder. We know to use it to treat all eating disorders but learning to listen to your body and give yourself unconditional permission to eat all foods is how
I recommend the people I work with who have binge eating disorder to work with an intuitive eating dietitian. My clients have feared that working with a dietitian would involve putting them on another diet or shaming them for how they eat. I recommend trusted dietitians who will help you learn to listen to your body and are anti-diet dietitians.
Binge Eating Disorder treatment can help.
Most people will go see their doctor for binge eating disorder, and sadly this usually makes things worse. Their doctor will likely prescribe weight loss (*facepalm*) through a diet or medication that will help them eat less. I know it may be tempting to go this route but please please reconsider. The treatment for binge eating disorder involves working with a binge eating disorder therapist who operates from a Health At Every Size approach. As I indicated earlier, it also means working with an Intuitive Eating dietitian. Healing from eating disorders often involves healing from past trauma, working through difficult emotions, learning to give yourself self-compassion, and working with a team of experienced and specialized professionals.
You can heal from Binge Eating Disorder
I would love to hype you up right now and tell you that you can heal from binge eating disorder. You can stop binging and have a healthy relationship with food and your body. It involves putting weight loss on the back burner. This may be what’s motivating you to get help from your eating disorder but focusing on weight loss is going to keep you in that binge eating cycle. Learning to tune in and listen to your body again is going to help your body learn to trust you will give it adequate nutrition. You deserve to heal, and you really can heal!
Ready to begin binge eating disorder treatment near Provo, Utah?
I assure you there is nothing I want more for you than for you to feel safe and cared about. I am not here to make any judgments of you. I want to help you feel better about yourself and to improve your relationship with food. Therapy can help you work through and create a happier version of yourself. I promise you I am not worried about how much you eat or what you look like. I’m here to help you heal from life’s bitter experiences. I want to help provide you with the best experience possible with Binge Eating Disorder Treatment.
Online Eating Disorder Therapy in Utah
Eating disorder treatment requires working with an eating disorder therapist with training and experience in what you are going through. Many parts of the state don’t have a therapist that can help because they don’t have this specialized experience. This is why I offer online counseling, a face-to-face video call where you don’t have to end up out in traffic. Online therapy in Utah is just as effective as in-person therapy.
Online counseling means if you are located in Logan, Cedar City, or St. George, I can help you recover from your eating disorder.
How do I begin binge eating disorder treatment in Utah?
You don’t have to live feeling out of control anymore. This Utah Counseling Clinic has an eating disorder therapist that can help you feel more confident with food again.
Meet with an eating disorder therapist in Utah
Begin therapy for binge eating
Other mental health services offered at Maple Canyon Therapy
Binge eating disorder treatment isn’t the only therapy service I provide at this Northern Utah Counseling Center. Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon therapy include: eating disorder treatment, anxiety therapy, body image therapy, and EMDR and trauma therapy.
About the Author
Ashlee Hunt is a licensed clinical social worker and the owner of Maple Canyon Therapy, located in Spanish Fork, Utah. Ashlee holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a bachelor’s degree in Family Life and Human Development, and a master’s in social work. Ashlee has extensive training and experience in treating eating disorders, has worked at an eating disorder treatment center, and facilitated a binge eating disorder support group. Ashlee utilizes a Health at Every Size approach to aid women in eating disorder recovery.